Sick British toddler at center of protracted legal battle dies
LONDON — Alfie Evans, the sick British toddler whose parents won support from Pope Francis during a protracted legal battle over his treatment, died early yesterday. He was 23 months old.
Kate James and Tom Evans made the announcement on social media, saying they were "heartbroken." The death of Alfie, who had a rare degenerative brain condition, came five days after doctors removed life support.
Doctors overseeingAlfie's care in the city of Liverpool said further treatment was futile and that he should be allowed to die, but his parents fought for months to try to convince judges to allow them to take him to the Vatican's children's hospital so he could be kept on life support.
The parents' campaign was backed by the pope and Christian groups, which helped draw international attention to the case. The hospital withdrew Alfie's life support Monday after a series of court rulings sided with the doctors and blocked further medical treatment.
The death came after an easing of tensions between the family and the hospital. Tom Evans, 21, had pledged to work with doctors to give his son "dignity and comfort," as he called for a truce in the divisive case.
"Our lives have been turned upside down by the intense focus on Alfie and his situation," Evans said Thursday outside Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital, where Alfie has been treated for more than a year.